Washing and Blocking

Washing and Blocking!

Blocks

I don't consider a quilt done until it is washed and blocked.

Washing the quilt removes any remaining markings and releases the puffiness and loft of the batting.

Blocking allows me to square up the quilt and insures that it will hang perfectly flat for display at a quilt show. (Tip: When folding your quilt for transport to a show always make the first folds parallel to the hanging sleeve. When unfolded, the weight of the quilt will help pull out the wrinkle. If folded vertically to the sleeve the quilt will appear wavy and has no chance of "hanging out".

For washing, begin by filling the machine tub with cold water. Dissolve a heaping tablespoonful of Orvus soap in one cup of warm water. Add it to the wash tub. Turn the washing machine OFF. Immerse the quilt in the tub and gently agitate with your hands. Do not soak the quilt for more than 5 minutes. Drain the water from the tub by running the spin cycle. Fill with cold water and turn the machine off. Hand agitate for rinse and use the spin cycle to drain the water. I usually rinse twice with cold water.

The process of washing can be very nerve wracking as I worry about fabric bleeding or crocking even though I pre-wash fabrics as a rule. In a workShop on hand dyeing I learned that two things are required in order to make the dye process successful: (1) the temperature of the water needs to be between 75 and 105 degrees, and (2) you must have soda ash to activate the dye. Soda ash is found in most laundry detergents. By limiting the temperature of the water to either cold or very hot it's my opinion that the possibility of bleeding is greatly reduced. Soaking the quilt for a long time should also be avoided because it allows excess dye molecules to migrate through the water and attach themselves to another location. Synthropol, a soap that dyers use to remove excess dye, can be used on a quilt where fabrics have crocked, but best results require the use of hot water.

After the quilt is washed, I place it in a dryer for only 1 or 2 minutes to slightly warm the fibers of the cotton. Then spread the quilt on a carpeted floor that has been well vacuumed. Using a 4-foot drywall T-square, I begin patting the quilt into square. Starting with the corners, making sure that the edge of the quilt meets the edge of the T-square, I work around the edge of the quilt. The binding needs to lay straight and even. Then pat the center of the quilt and smooth it so that it is perfectly flat. It's helpful to place an electric fan near the quilt to blow air over the top accelerating drying time. Leave the quilt on the floor until it is completely dry.

I find that once a quilt has been blocked it seems to have a "memory". The next washing and blocking is much easier!

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